Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Webcol Large Alcohol Prep Pads recall: Microbial Contamination

Recall published 7 months ago

Microbial Contamination

Webcol Prescription & OTC drugs — recalled prescription & otc drugsWebcol Prescription & OTC drugs — recalled prescription & otc drugs (photo 2)
2 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Microbial contamination

This recall is a contamination finding. The product may be perfectly normal to look at, because testing — not appearance — is what caught it.

What the notice says: There is a reasonable probability that use of the contaminated pads may result in local and systemic infections in at-risk populations; patients with impaired immune response, including patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or poorly controlled diabetes, may develop life-threatening infections such as bacteremia or central nervous system infections.

Why it matters: The product was found, or is suspected, to carry a harmful micro-organism. The agency notice names the specific organism and that detail matters, because the illness it causes and the people most at risk differ from one to the next.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

Most foodborne infections cause stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea and sometimes fever, starting anywhere from hours to weeks after exposure depending on the organism. See a doctor for a high fever, bloody diarrhoea, vomiting that stops you keeping liquids down, diarrhoea lasting more than three days, or signs of dehydration. Infants, pregnant people, adults over 65 and anyone immunocompromised should seek advice earlier.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
March 19, 2026
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Webcol
Product type
Prescription & OTC drugs
Distribution
Puerto Rico

Products covered by this recall

Large Alcohol Prep Pads (70% isopropyl alcohol)

What the company announced

“Press release was updated on April 15, 2026 to clarify the lot numbers impacted by the recall.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / DUBLIN, Ohio, March 19, 2026 – Cardinal Health has issued a voluntary recall for select lots of Webcol™ Large Alcohol Prep Pads (70% isopropyl alcohol) to the consumer level. The product is being recalled due to microbial contamination identified as Paenibacillus phoenicis .

There is a reasonable probability that use of the contaminated pads may result in local and systemic infections in at-risk populations; patients with impaired immune response, including patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or poorly controlled diabetes, may develop life-threatening infections such as bacteremia or central nervous system infections.

The Webcol™ Alcohol Prep Pad is used for external use only and utilized for cleansing.

The product was distributed in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan between September 2025 and February 2026.

Affected Webcol™ Alcohol Prep Pad lots include the following lot numbers:

See Attached Table

Cardinal Health notified its customers by overnight mail on March 2, 2026, with instructions to:

REVIEW inventory for the affected product code.

SEGREGATE and quarantine all affected product upon review of inventory.

DISSEMINATE Cardinal Health’s notice to all departments, clinics and external campuses that handle the affected products.

NOTIFY any customers to whom they may have distributed or forwarded affected product about this voluntary recall.

RETURN the acknowledgment form via fax to 614-652-9648 or email directly to [email protected] , confirming receipt of this product action.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Cardinal Health at [email protected] or call 800-292-9332 Monday-Friday between 8am and 5pm EST.

Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

Complete and submit the report Online : www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm

Regular Mail or Fax : Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

What to do about Contamination

Webcol — This recall is a contamination finding. The product may be perfectly normal to look at, because testing — not appearance — is what caught it.

  1. Stop eating it and keep it separate from other food.
  2. Clean and sanitise the fridge shelf, container or surface it was stored on.
  3. Read the official notice for the organism named — the advice for Listeria, Salmonella and hepatitis A is not the same.
  4. If anyone who ate it is unwell, mention the recall and the date by name when you call a clinician.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Company contact: Cardinal Health — Consumers: Cardinal Health, 800-292-9332, [email protected] — Media: Casey Sudzina, Media Relations, Cardinal Health, (614) 356-3220

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Webcol prescription & otc drugs recalled?

Microbial Contamination There is a reasonable probability that use of the contaminated pads may result in local and systemic infections in at-risk populations; patients with impaired immune response, including patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or poorly controlled diabetes, may develop life-threatening infections such as bacteremia or central nervous system infections.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official FDA — Company recall announcements record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating it and keep it separate from other food.

Can I get my money back?

A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Puerto Rico.

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